Florida Artists Group

Artist Statement:

We live in a culture that has lost our deep connection with our home: the wilderness, the Earth. In my art, I visually explore the relationships between the people of our culture and the natural world. This in itself is a paradox, because humans are not separate from nature, but a part of nature. My work reflects an array of themes, from ecocide (the destruction of the environment) to a symbiotic interdependence between humans and our organic surroundings.

Artist Biography

Heather Clements is quite unique in that she has always known what she wanted to do with her life. She has shown an affinity and talent for art for as long as she can remember, and has never wavered in her desire to be an artist. Her mother can be quoted by saying, "Even as a toddler, she always colored inside the lines!" Growing up, though, Heather has never hesitated to think outside of the box.

Heather grew up in Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. In 2007, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.  After graduation, Heather knew it was the perfect time to branch out to unfamiliar territories while she was still young and free. She ended up on the road with some friends to Panama City, Florida, a town she had never heard of before.

Shortly after moving to the Panhandle, Heather became the owner of the Gallery Above, an amazing art gallery that was the hub for the sub-culture of the area.  Serving as a place for innovation, Gallery Above hosted monthly art exhibits, music events for local and nationally touring bands, film nights, swing dances, and so much more. “No one I know is doing more for local art and artists than Heather Clements and her Gallery Above.” – Michael Lister, News Herald.

After two years of gallery ownership, Heather became the Exhibitions Manager and Graphic Designer for the Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida. At the VAC Heather curated many large and exciting exhibits, but in 2010 she decided to leave and concentrate on what she has always loved most: creating her own art.

Heather is now a full-time artist and art instructor. Heather has gained recognition for herself, procuring several solo exhibitions and winning many awards for her art in local and regional exhibits. Always drawing inspiration from the human figure, Heather mixes portraiture with rich metaphors. From octopus arms representing an inner struggle, to leaf tattoos coming to life expressing a symbiotic relationship with the environment, Heather never ceases to try to create new and meaningful images.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2013            Cut It Out: Paper Cut Art by Heather Clements, Bay County Public Library, Panama City, FL
2011            I Cut Paper: Art by Heather Clements, Studio B, Alys Beach, FL
2011            Paper Garden (Commissioned), VAC, Panama City, FL
2010            Heather Clements – A Selection of Works: Past, Present, but not Future, Gulf Coast 
                     State College, Amelia Center Main Gallery, Panama City, FL
2008           Octopus’s Garden: Art by Heather Clements, Tupelo Theater, Wewahitchka, FL
2007           I Draw People - The Art of Heather Clements, Gallery Above, Panama City, FL

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2014           Nature Inspired, Guild of American Papercutters, National Museum, Somerset, PA
2014           St. Andrews Inspired, Floriopolis Arts and Culture Center, Panama City, FL
2012/13     Northstar Annual Art Show, Panama City, FL
2012           Dia de los Muertos, ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2012           Top of the Class, Juried Exhibition, Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
2012           Heather Heather Heather (3 - woman show), CityArts Cooperative, Panama City, FL
2011           Figure It Out, Studio B, Alys Beach, FL
2011           BOLD, A&M Theater, Panama City, FL
2009           Opening Exhibition, Studio B, Alys Beach, FL
2008/09     Light II, III, Gallery Above, Panama City, FL
2008/09     Bay Annual 46th, 47th, VAC, Panama City, FL
2007/08     Darkness II, III, Gallery Above, Panama City, FL
2007            Commencement Exhibition, Fox Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2004           Selections from the Painting Department, Brown 3 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2002/03     Something Hot, Gallery 222, Leesburg, VA

Awards / Recognition:

2014            1st Place, Figure It Juried Exhibition, Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach
2014/12      Merit Award, Top of the Class, Juried Exhibition,
                     Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
2013/08     Merit Award, Bay Annual, Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida
2013            Best in Show, Central Panhandle Fair, Bay County, FL
2013            Honorable Mention, Central Panhandle Fair, Bay County, FL
2003-07      Dean’s List, MICA
2003-07      Presidential Scholarship, MICA
2003            Best Senior in Art, Park View High School
2003             1st Place, Excellence in the Arts, Loudoun Arts Council
1999             1st Place in Art, Terry and Sherry Malone Foundation

Press:

2014             "Artist Interview with Heather Clements," www.CLAWCLAW.com
2013             "Cut It Out: Artist's work connects with man, nature" PanamaCity.com print and online
2013             "The Business Side of Papercutting," First Cut Newsletter
2013             "Portrait of the people artist, Heather Clements," Panama City Life Magazine
2012              "Artist Opens Exhibit of Paper Cut Work," Walton Sun
2011               "A Cut Above The Rest: Artist Cuts Paper, Scissors," News Herald
2011               “Paper Garden Blooms at VAC,” Bay County Bullet
2010              Featured Artist, Beachcomber
2008              “Shaking Up the PC Arts Scene,” Cover Story with 5 page article, Coastal Homes and
                       Lifestyles Magazine
2008              Cover Artist, Entertainer, News Herald
2008              Featured Artist (February - April,) Bay Arts Magazine (Cover and article)
2008              Artist of the month (January), EmeraldCoast.com
2007-2011    Cover Artist, Panama City Visitors Map
2007              Featured Artist (December,) Coastal Style Magazine

Affiliations:

2007 - present             Member of Panama City Artists
2010 - present             Director at CityArts Cooperative
2012 - present             Member of Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County
2012 - present             Member of Guild of American Papercutters

Relevant Work Experience:

Full Time Professional Artist 2010 - present:
Fine art, commissioned art

Art Instructor (Figure Drawing, Portrait Drawing, Youth Art, Private Adult Art, Paper Cutting) 2007 - present:
CityArts Cooperative, Panama City, FL 2010 - present
Studio b., Alys Beach, FL 2009 - 2012
Visual Arts Center, Panama City, FL 2009 - 2010
Michaels, Panama City, FL 2007
Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City, FL 2009 - 2010:  
Exhibitions Manager: research, help choose, curate, and hang all exhibits
Graphic Designer: graphic design for all printed and online materials

Gallery Above, Panama City, FL 2007 - 2009:  
[The Gallery Above was a contemporary art gallery, housing a center of the arts for the sub-culture of the area]
Owner/Operator: monthly exhibit curation, graphic design, public relations and marketing, event organization, sales, finances, miscellaneous